Chapter 10: The Wedding Day Song Tinglan Becomes a Mother on Her Wedding Night

The whole audience was in an uproar and looked over in surprise.

There were people who wanted to compete with Song Sheng in the early years, but without exception they all returned empty-handed and extremely tragically.

So much so that in the past four years, no one dared to bring bad luck upon themselves.

Song Sheng wasn't surprised. He smiled calmly and stood up, saying, "Your Highness, I have no reason to refuse such a kind offer."

The two stood facing each other, and no one among the onlookers dared to speak.

"This time I'll write 'Bright Moon', which will take two hours." Taifu Zhang was overjoyed as he looked at his two beloved disciples.

Bright moon.

Min Shian was still thinking, but saw that Song Sheng had already started writing. He was surprised for a moment, then calmed down and continued to think, not affected by Song Sheng's rhythm at all.

Since ancient times, everyone's writing habits have been very different. Min Shi'an is accustomed to first thinking of the overall idea and then writing to perfect the details. If he is influenced by others, the quality of his article will be greatly reduced.

A quarter of an hour later, Min Shian and Song Sheng put down their pens at the same time. She looked up and happened to meet Song Sheng's complicated gaze. Song Sheng was startled for a moment, then returned to normal, saying softly, "Your Highness, please forgive me for making such a fuss."

The crowd became agitated, and it only took Song Sheng a quarter of an hour to finish it. What was amazing was that Min Shian was just as quick.

"Would you two like to end it early?" Elder Yang glanced at Grand Tutor Zhang. Seeing he remained silent, he continued, "Once the drum sounds, there's no room for change."

After receiving affirmative responses from the two, Mr. Yang waved his hand to signal the drummer to beat the drum.

“Dongdongdong——”

Unlike the brief drumbeat just now, this time the drumbeat lasted ten times.

The clerk presented the article to Mr. Yang, who frowned and read it for nearly a quarter of an hour, then handed it to Master Zhang without saying a word.

Everyone was puzzled and some were unsure what Mr. Yang meant.

After reading it, Grand Tutor Zhang said loudly, "Everyone, it's hard to tell who's better between An'er and Yan Xuan. How about we all taste it together and decide who's the winner?"

Although everyone knew about Min Shian's literary talent, they were still extremely shocked at this moment. There was actually someone who could be compared with Song Sheng!

"The first one is "Looking at the Moon and Thinking of Home."

"The bright moon shines on the tall building, and the flowing light is lingering.

There is a sad woman upstairs, lamenting with grief.

…［1］”

After reading it, Zhang Taifu stroked his beard with a smile on his face, picked up another article on the table and began to read.

"'Moon over the Mountains'."

"The bright moon rises over the distant mountains, amidst the vast sea of clouds.

The wind blows for thousands of miles, passing through the northern pass.

First go down the Hanshan Road and look west at the Jihai Bay.

No one has ever returned from a battlefield.

The soldiers look at the border and their faces are filled with sorrow as they think of returning home.

In this night in the high building, sighs should not be idle. [2]”

The applause continued one after another for a long time, mixed with exclamations, cheers, and discussions about poetry. All kinds of sounds were heard in the ears.

The two poems use the moon from different perspectives to express different emotions, but both express the longing for relatives fighting on the battlefield far away at the border, as well as the yearning for peace.

The love is so deep that it makes people cry.

In the end, no one was decided on the winner. All people knew was that two masterpieces were produced at the Wenqing Talks.

"Shi An is too amazing. The title of the most talented woman will soon be passed to someone else."

Min Shian and Song Sheng took their seats one after another, and heard Song Tinglan's smiling and teasing voice.

Upon hearing this, Song Sheng added slowly, "I'm afraid that the title of Wenquxing reincarnation will also belong to Your Highness."

"No way, I was just lucky, please don't make fun of me." Min Shian waved his hand and took a sip of tea to suppress the uneasiness in his heart.

After the meeting, Grand Tutor Zhang took Min Shi'an back to the Grand Tutor's Mansion, while Song Sheng and Song Tinglan were busy with their wedding in half a month and said goodbye in a hurry.

As the days gradually got back on track, Min Shi'an became more and more comfortable with his studies, and even took the initiative to ask for more lessons. He talked with Zhang Taifu about everything from poetry and songs to the government and the world.

"I've heard a lot about Yuan Ge. He's a brave and good fighter. Ting Lan's wedding is coming up soon, and I understand why you're here. You can leave tomorrow."

"After this separation, I don't know when we will meet again. You and Tinglan have a deep relationship. An'er should not be absent during Tinglan's last few days in Shangjing City."

Zhang Taifu's tone was the same as usual, with smile lines appearing at the corners of his eyes, but the smile was gone from his eyes. They were like a vast ocean, surging with emotions that she could not understand.

"An'er, just go for it. How can you know the result if you don't try?"

This is what Master Zhang said.

Min Shian fell silent. She was not surprised that Grand Tutor Zhang could see through her intentions and thoughts. Three generations of Grand Tutors had experienced ups and downs in officialdom, and she had never thought of hiding her ambitions from Grand Tutor.

"Thank you for your teachings, teacher. I understand."

She bowed deeply again, turned around and strode out of the Taifu Mansion, heading towards her next unknown life.

…

When she arrived at the Song Mansion, everyone was in a festive mood. Even the cats and dogs in the yard were tied with red ribbons. As soon as Min Shian entered Qingheju, he was hugged by Song Tinglan.

"I knew you were coming, so I waited for you long ago. An'er, although Beifeng is a long and remote place with high mountains, communication is very convenient..."

Song Tinglan's voice gradually choked. She paused and continued, "Remember to write to me."

Min Shian hugged her back, and after feeling the warmth on his shoulder, he whispered soothingly, "Tinglan, don't be sad. The teacher said today that Xiao Yuange is a good person. I don't think he would dare to disrespect you."

"I know that, but I'm most worried about you. After I leave, if father or... makes things difficult for you, what will you do?"

Song Tinglan broke away from her embrace, held her shoulders, and said worriedly: "Brother may care about the relationship between you and me, so it won't be a problem, but the others are like wolves, tigers and leopards. How can I not miss you?"

Min Shian's heart tightened and he immediately felt that breathing was a little difficult. Her Tinglan was about to travel thousands of miles to an extremely cold place to get married, but the one she was most worried about was the princess who was in the prosperous Shangjing City.

"I……"

She spoke with difficulty, her voice hoarse as she spoke word by word, "Tinglan, I have the protection of my mother, the care of my teacher, and your brother to help me. You can rest assured."

"As for you, please remember to write to me often. Wear more clothes when it's cold, and don't freeze yourself."

On the 22nd day of the sixth month of the intercalary year of Dingmo, on the 16th day of Tianchong, Xiao Song got married in a grand ceremony with a red wedding dress that stretched ten miles in length.

Min Shian looked at the wedding procession from afar until the last trace of red disappeared. She still stood there, unable to come back to her senses for a long time.

"Master, it's time." A quarter of an hour later, Chuntao couldn't bear it anymore and stepped forward to remind him.

She came back to her senses and looked at Chuntao beside her in a daze for a moment. After the meeting with Wenqing, Queen Xie persuaded Chuntao to stay by her side.

"Forget it, let's go back home."

*

"The ceremony is over——"

"Send her to the bridal chamber—"

Song Tinglan's veil remained motionless. She sat upright on the edge of the couch, her thoughts racing and cold sweat breaking out on her palms.

She had seen Xiao Wangjing before, but she was still young at that time. Later, as she grew older, she only saw him from a distance through the crowd, but she did not see his true face.

I don't know if he is good-looking now. If he is ugly...

Song Tinglan quickly stopped thinking and dared not think any more. Her father, Song, was a romantic and dashing man, and Jiang was a beauty. She had inherited both of their traits perfectly. She often admired herself in the mirror in her spare time. If her husband was ugly, she would definitely not be able to tolerate it.

The candlelight flickered as Xiao Wangjing walked over quickly, bringing with him a light breeze that made the candlelight flicker even more.

He stopped in front of Song Tinglan, his voice trembling slightly. He spoke in a low voice, as if he was afraid of disturbing the person under the veil: "Tinglan...can I lift the veil?"

Song Tinglan clenched her sleeves, feeling a little shy, and remained silent.

Xiao Wangjing was not in a hurry and waited patiently. For a while, the only sound in the room was the flickering candlelight.

After a long time, Song Tinglan shook her veil slightly. Xiao Wangjing, who was trying to take the enemy's head from ten miles away, could hardly hold the jade ruyi in his hand.

He bent down and carefully lifted the veil. Song Tinglan's red lips came into view first. Xiao Wangjing's neck turned red immediately and his face looked like a ripe apple.

Song Tinglan looked at the person in front of her who was red from head to toe, and laughed out loud, saying, "My husband's face does match this wedding dress quite well."

Xiao Wangjing became even more embarrassed and stammered, "Ting...Lan, oh, no, mother...mother..."

Song Tinglan's eyes were filled with laughter. She snorted and said, "Huh? Why don't you recognize me as your wife and call me your mother instead?"

"No... no." Xiao Wangjing scratched his head and said anxiously, "I... I..."

Song Tinglan helped him sit down on the couch and said jokingly, "A dignified General of Chariots and Cavalry, is it possible that he is a stutterer?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wangjing took a deep breath and said slowly and firmly, "My lady, you have come all the way from Shangjing. I, Xiao Wangjing, swear here that if you dare to betray me, I will be pierced by a thousand arrows!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? How can you say such things on such a happy day?"

"Yes, yes, my lady is right. Blame me, blame me."

The two looked at each other affectionately. There was a mist in Song Tinglan's eyes that could not be melted away, covering the person in her eyes, and that person was willing to be trapped in it and unable to extricate himself.

Soon, Song Tinglan was covered in sweat and was deeply moved. The mist in her eyes solidified and slid down from the corners of her eyes.

Xiao Wangjing stopped moving, wiped away the glaring tears with his warm hands, and comforted her softly: "Tinglan, don't be afraid..."

Before he finished speaking, a new round of action began. Song Tinglan frowned slightly, but soon relaxed. She closed her eyes and rose and fell with Xiao Wangjing's strength.

After years of fighting on the battlefield, Xiao Wangjing's physical strength is naturally self-evident, and although Song Tinglan's health has improved a lot, she is still no match for the general.

Soon, she became exhausted and fainted.

Xiao Wangjing quickly held the person in his arms and called the court doctor over.

Then he wrapped Song Tinglan tightly, lowered the curtain, and began to put on his clothes.

Before the court doctor arrived, Song Tinglan slowly woke up. Feeling the restraints on her body, she lowered her eyes and looked at him. She said weakly, "My husband has made such a big scene."

Immediately, the bedding was kicked to the end of the couch, and clothes were scattered all over the floor. Xiao Wangjing was once again immersed in the mist in Song Tinglan's eyes.

…

When Min Shian arrived, it was just before the wedding banquet began. She became absent-minded after sitting down, and even her favorite Poria cocos pastry was difficult to swallow.

Guests arrived one after another, and then Xiao Wangjing and Song Tinglan entered. In an instant, congratulations were heard one after another. While drinking, Min Shian's eyes met Song Tinglan's for a brief moment and then looked away.

Seeing the smile on Song Tinglan's face and the happiness in her eyes, Min Shian couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, she was happy.